OXYUEIS VERMICULAEIS. 371 



first of all, recommend the exhibition of ordinary anthelmintic 

 purgatives, which will frequently carry off great numbers, The 

 etherial extract of the male shield fern, Kousso, panna, and the 

 other remedies I have mentioned when treating of Ascaris lumhri- 

 coides, may all prove useful ; but, undoubtedly, the best thing to do, 

 in bad cases, consists in the administration of oft-repeated enemata. 

 These may consist of cold or slightly tepid water, to which it will 

 be well to add either a little salt, or a few drops of anise oil. 

 Some practitioners add assafcetida, or infusions of quassia, and 

 common wormwood. The active principle of the southernwood 

 {Artemisia abrotanum) and Tartarian southernwood {A. santonica) 

 may also be employed with great advantage. This, in children, 

 may be given either by the mouth, in doses of two or three grains, 

 or along with enemata, when a larger quantity may be employed, pre- 

 viously mixed with some oleaginous material. Simple olive oil was 

 successfully employed by Sommering, and the decoction of aloes has 

 been recommended by Dujardin. Chloroform, sulphuric ether, and 

 Prussian blue (Ferri cyanuretum) have also their various advocates. 

 At all events, whatever anthelmintic be employed, the great thing 

 to be observed is perseverance in the use of the remedy. A good 

 enema, every third or fourth day for two or even three weeks, will 

 scarcely fail to carry off the majority of the obnoxious visitants ; 

 and even should they return, we, at least, may expect a tolerably 

 comfortable interval of three or four months. Many persons, 

 however, will not subject themselves to these diagreeable remedies, 

 preferring rather to entertain their numerous guests. One such 

 individual constantly supplies me with fresh Oxyurides for experi- 

 mental purposes ; and, as I reward him liberally, his intestinal 

 guests are not, I trust, considered unremunerative. I may here 

 mention, that I am indebted to Mr. Harris for a very useful 

 practical hint, inasmuch as he has informed me that the introduc- 

 tion of a little mercurial ointment within the verge of the anus, 

 when the patient retires to rest, will effectually prevent the 

 nocturnal migration of the parasites. Lastly, there is one Indian 



